Golf swing training aid

ABSTRACT

A golf swing training aid that can be used by men, women, juniors and senior golfers whether they are right or left handed. A golf swing training aid that can be used indoors and outdoors, on natural grass or artificial surfaces. A golf swing training aid that can be used by a golfer using his/her own equipment while hitting golf balls. This golf swing training aid allows a golfer to receive instant feedback, allowing him/her to make swing changes for improved ball striking. A golf swing training aid that consists of two tube (- 10 ) with pliable duct (- 18 ), and plastic flex hose (- 20 ) inside of tube (- 10 ) connected by two connecting strips (- 16 ). This golf swing training aid can be bent/curved to various arcs to allow a golfer to practice proper swing path for a variety of shots including woods, irons, chipping, putting, bunker shots, uneven lies and more.

BACKGROUND—CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/256553 filed Dec. 20, 2000.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to golf training aids that are used forimproving a golfer's swing.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0003] As plentiful as golf-training aids are, most of them fail to giveproper, accurate and most importantly “instant” feedback. An idealtraining aid allows a golfer to practice their game using his/her owngolf clubs. This practice should include all 14 clubs in a golfer's bag.

[0004] Most training aids neglect this point. An ideal training aidshould allow a golfer to hit real golf balls. This would allow anygolfer to see immediate results of their practice. Many training aidsprevent a golfer from this benefit. An ideal training aid should not besuitable for just right handed or just left handed golfers. Manytraining aids cannot be used by both right and left handed golferswithout purchasing a specified right or left-handed aid. An idealtraining aid should not be gender biased. Both men and women should beable to use the same training aid. Unfortunately, this is not always thecase. Since many club manufacturers produce women's clubs with a smallergrip diameter than men's clubs, lighter weighted clubhead, lighterweighted shaft than men's, and a shorter length shaft than men's, thismakes it very difficult for both genders to use the same training aid.Unfortunately, junior golfers, children under the age of 18, are alsosubjected to trying to adapt to an adult sized training aid. Somecurrent training aids are too heavy, too long, and wrong sizes for ajunior golfer to receive the benefit of those training aids. Sometraining aids are limited by only being effective indoors or in lowlighting situations. Furthermore, senior golfers that fall in the agegroup of over 50 years old cannot use certain training aids. Some ofthese aids are just too heavy.

[0005] Most training aids are designed to help only one part of agolfer's game. Some are designed to help improve putting, others aredesigned to help a golfer's full swing. While others are designed tohelp improve chipping and bunker skills. Still other training aids aredesigned to help golfers feel various aspects of their swing. Other aidsteach mechanical aspects of a golf swing. We are unaware of one singlegolf training aid which has been designed to help a golfer's entiregame. A golfer's entire game which includes full swing, chipping,pitching, bunker shots, putting and all clubs in their bag. Very fewtraining aids have been designed for men, women, juniors, and seniors;left and right handed golfers.

SUMMARY

[0006] Gender, age, right or left handed, indoor or outdoor use, notbeing able to use a golfer's own golf clubs and hit golf balls whilepracticing are the current restrictions and limitations of golfstraining aids. Currently, there is a need for one training aid that canbe used by every golfer to improve all aspects of their game of golf.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0007] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the presentinvention are as follows:

[0008] a) A golf swing training aid that can provide instant feedback

[0009] b) A golf swing training aid that allows a golfer to use his/herown clubs

[0010] c) A golf swing training aid that allows a golfer to use everyclub in their bag

[0011] d) A golf swing training aid that allows a golfer to hit realgolf balls

[0012] e) A golf swing training aid that can be used by both left andright handed golfers

[0013] f) A golf swing training aid that can be used by both men andwomen

[0014] g) A golf swing training aid that can be used by junior golfers(children under the age of 18)

[0015] h) A golf swing training aid that can be used in both indoor andoutdoor lighting situations

[0016] i) A golf swing training aid that helps to improve more than onefacet of a golfer's game (i.e. full swing, putting, chipping, pitching,woods, and bunker shots)

[0017] j) A golf swing training aid that can be used by senior golfers

[0018] Further objects and advantages are to allow a golfer to receiveinstant feedback while practicing hitting golf balls with his/her ownclubs. Instant feedback will allow a golfer to make adjustments inhis/her own shot making abilities. Instant feedback from our golf swingtraining aid will benefit a golfer in several ways. Further objects andadvantages of our golf swing training aid will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0019]FIG. 1 is a top view of all individual pieces of training aid.

[0020]FIG. 1-A is a perspective view of non-flat pieces of training aid.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of training aid that is partiallyassembled.

[0022]FIG. 2-A is a side view that shows partial assembly.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a cross section view of partial assembly.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a cross section view of partial assembly.

[0025]FIG. 5 is a top view of training aid assembled.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0026] 10 pipe insulation tube 12 flexible cutting board strip 14AVelcro 14B Velcro 16 connecting strip 18 pliable duct 20 plastic flexhose 22 end cap

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027]FIG. 2 (bottom view)

[0028]FIG. 2 shows where Velcro-14A is attached to bottom of pipeinsulation tube-10. Tube-10 is hollow. However, tube-10 can consist ofany other material that can be repeatedly bent or hit without fracturingor tearing, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber,leather, various impregnated or laminated fibrous materials, variousplasticized materials, cardboard, paper, etc.

[0029]FIG. 2A (side view)

[0030]FIG. 2-A shows how to attach Velcro-14B to strip-12. Forsimplicity, connecting strip-16 is a finished view of strip-12 andVelcro-14B after they are attached together. However, connectingstrip-16 can consist of any other material that can be repeatedlyattached or hit without fracturing or tearing, such as polyethylene,polypropylene, vinyl, nylon, rubber, leather, various impregnated orlaminated fibrous materials, various plasticized materials, cardboard,paper, etc.

[0031]FIG. 3 (cross section view)

[0032]FIG. 3 shows a cross section view partially assembled. Tube-10 ishollow. Tube-10 has pliable duct-18 through opening of tube-10. Pliableduct-18 is centered in tube-10.

[0033]FIG. 4 (cross section view)

[0034]FIG. 4 shows a cross section view partially assembled. Tube-10 ishollow. Tube-10 has pliable duct-18 through opening of tube-10. Pliableduct-18 is centered in tube-10. Hose-18 is inserted into ends oftube-10.

[0035]FIG. 5 (top view)

[0036]FIG. 5 shows an assembled golf swing training aid. Tube-10 isattached to other tube-10 with connecting strip-16 near both ends.

Description of Invention

[0037]FIG. 1 (top view)

[0038] Our golf swing training aid is both simple and has very fewpieces as shown is FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows six materials used for our golfswing training aid. These six materials are pipe insulation tube-10,strip-12, Velcro-14A, Velcro-14B, pliable duct-18, hose-18 and endcap-22. FIG. 1 also shows finished product of flexible cutting boardstrip-12 and Velcro-14B resulting in connecting strip-16. See FIG. 2-Afor attachment of strip-12 and Velcro-14B. Tube-10 is pipe insulationthat is 152.4 centimeters long, and is hollow. Inside diameter ofopening of tube-10 is 3.175 centimeters. Outside diameter of tube-10 is5.715 centimeters. Wall thickness of tube-10 is 1.27 centimeters.Flexible cutting board strip-12 is 2.54 centimeters wide and 38.1centimeters long. Velcro-14A is 2.54 centimeters wide and 19.05centimeters long. Velcro-14A is 2.54 centimeters wide and 38.1centimeters long. Pliable duct-18 has a 3.175 centimeters outsidediameter and is 91.44 centimeters long.

[0039] Flex hose-18 has a 3.175 centimeters outside diameter and is27.94 centimeters long. End cap-22 has a 3.175 centimeters outsidediameter and is 2.54 centimeters long. Paint used is Spies HeckerPermacron 121 elastic primer surfacer #3300 (beige color). Paint ismixed with Spies Hecker Permacron 121 elastic primer surfacer hardener#3301. This special mixture is similar to paint sprayed onto NerfFootballs.

[0040] Cut length of tube-10 so that overall length is 152.4 centimeterslong. Insert 91.44 centimeters of pliable flex hose-18 into center oftube-10 This will leave 30.48 centimeters on both ends of pliable flexhose-18 to end of tube-10 (see FIG. 3). Insert 27.94 centimeters longhose-18 at both ends of tube-10 (see FIG. 4). Insert end cap-22 at bothends of tube-10

[0041] Affix Velcro-14A to bottom of tube-10. This step is repeated onother end of tube-10 (see FIG. 2). Affix Velcro-14B to cutting boardstrip-12 (see FIG. 2-A). Attach finished connecting strip-16 toVelcro-14A on bottom of tube-10. Stamp product name onto top of tube-10Stamp phone number onto bottom of tube-10.

Operation of Invention

[0042] Set-up and operation of our golf swing training aid is simple andeasy to do.

[0043] 1. Remove connecting strip-16 from Velcro-14A on bottom oftube-10.

[0044] 2. Attach connecting strip-16 perpendicular to Velcro-14A onbottom of tube-10 Repeat this step with other connecting strip-16 atother end of tube-10 Connect unattached end of connecting strip-16 toVelcro-14A on bottom of second tube-10 as shown in FIG. 5. Repeat thisstep with other connecting strip-16 and Velcro-14A at other end ofsecond tube-10.

[0045] 3. Grab each end of one tube-10 and bend towards each other, andthen release. Golfer may then adjust curve of tube-10 to personalpreferences.

[0046] 4. Golf swing training aid is now ready for use as shown in FIG.5.

[0047] After assembling our golf swing training aid a golfer can beginpracticing. Our golf training aid can be used by beginner, intermediate,and advanced golfers. All level of golfers can use this golf swingtraining aid for chipping, pitching, putting, bunker shots, and fullswings with woods and irons. A description below is for full swingpractice.

[0048] 1. A beginner golfer would see more improvement by using ourgolf-training aid without a golf ball. Practice sessions that begin witha half-swing, then three-quarter swings, and concluding with fullswings. A beginner would be able to groove their swings more easily andquickly.

[0049] 2. An intermediate golfer should start by not using a golf ball.He/She should practice ½, ¾ and fill swings until they becomecomfortable using training aid. Once he/she is confident of their swing,they should use a golf ball.

[0050] 3. Advanced golfers can bend/curve our golf-training aid to theirdesired swing path. Once this is done, he/she can begin hitting golfballs.

[0051] A golfer will bend each tube-10 into desired curve. A golfer thenplaces a ball on the ground (or onto a golf tee, if so desired). He/Shethen swings and hits a golf ball without hitting either tube-10 Correctand repeatable swings are created/learned while using our golf swingtraining aid. Distance between each tube -10 is adjustable. A golfer canmake it very easy or very difficult. Maximum space between each tube-10will help a student's confidence. As a golfer's swing improves, spacingbetween each tube-10 can be narrowed. This procedure can be applied forchipping, pitching, bunker shots, and even putting.

Theory of Operation

[0052] We believe that this golf swing training aid helps a golfer tomake a more consistent and improved swing. We believe that a golfer willfind center between both tubes. Many adjustments are made until this endis met. We believe that this golf swing training aid is the besttraining aid to help fix an over the top golf swing. While we believethat a golfer will learn to find center of both tubes during practice,we do not wish to be bound by this.

Conclusion, Ramifications and Scope

[0053] Accordingly, the reader will see that this golf swing trainingaid can be used by men, women, junior and senior golfers that are rightor left handed. Also noted is that this golf swing training aid can beused by a golfer while hitting golf balls and using his/her own golfclubs. This golf swing training aid also can be used indoors or outdoorswhether it is being used on grass hitting areas or artificial turfareas. This golf swing training aid allows a golfer to receive instantfeedback, allowing him/her to make swing changes for improved ballstriking. While my above description contains many specificities, theseshould not be construed as limitations on the scope of the golf swingtraining aid, but rather as an exemplification of one preferredembodiment thereof. Other variations are possible. For example, if agolfer were to use our golf swing training aid for alignment aid forhis/her feet; or to use them for landing areas on the putting greenwhile chipping or pitching, etc. Other variations may include usingshorter or longer tubes; larger or smaller diameter tubes. Tubes, flexhose, pliable duct, and connecting strips can be made of similar ordifferent materials and/or colors, or using a different method ofconnecting both tubes. Accordingly, the scope of the golf swing trainingaid should be determined not by the embodiment(s) illustrated, but bythe appended claims and their legal equivalents.

We claim:
 1. A golf swing training aid comprising A. an elongatedcore-element means whereby manipulation of said elongated core-element,and B. an elongated holder surrounding and encasing said elongatedcore-element means, and C. attachment of connecting means of saidelongated holder to a second elongated holder, whereby said elongatedholder protects said elongated core-element means from breakage andprovides an enlarged means for holding said elongated core-element meansconveniently.